NASL Jacksonville Armada FC

Old Florida soccer rivalry between Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale to reignite on Saturday

Published on February 26, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Jacksonville Armada FC News Release


Saturday, Feb. 28 | Jacksonville, Fla. | 7:30 p.m.

Community First Park at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville | Buy Tickets | Weather

Game Coverage TV: CW17 (WCWJ)

Radio: WFXJ Sports Radio 930-AM

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Twitter: @ArmadaFCgameday

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (February 26, 2015) - The Jacksonville Armada FC will step on to the pitch of Community First Park at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville for the first time on Saturday, and it plans to christen its full-time home with a win over 2014 North American Soccer League Championship runner-up Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

The Armada FC is well-versed in spectacular openings, downing Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union 3-1 on Feb. 7 at EverBank Field in front of an NASL preseason record crowd of 13,934. And after a tough 1-0 loss at the Charleston Battery last Wednesday, Jacksonville will look to right the ship with its fast-paced attack and solid goalkeeping from Miguel Gallardo.

The contest between the clubs will rekindle the old Florida soccer rivalry between the cities . Jacksonville's former professional soccer team, the Tea Men, had a fierce rivalry with the Strikers in the old NASL back in the 1980s. In 1981, the Tea Men's first season in Jacksonville, the team played a match at the Gator Bowl against Fort Lauderdale on June 27. During the match, Jacksonville's Bob Newton struck Fort Lauderdale's Elias Figueroa with his elbow, knocking out some of Figueroa's teeth and opening up a gash that required 41 stitches to close. Figueroa also needed plastic surgery. Newton said that he didn't do it intentionally. The Strikers disagreed. At one point, the Strikers considered suing Newton. The league suspended Newton for two games and fined him $250. The next time the Strikers came to Jacksonville a month and a half later, 18,088 poured into the Gator Bowl to watch the next installment of the rivalry, a game won by the Tea Men 2-1.

Away from the action, fans will be able to enjoy a plethora of entertainment. Beginning at 4 p.m., supporters will be able to enjoy the Armada Matchday Experience, hosted by The Beat 93.3 FM's T-Roy and presented by PRI Productions. It is free to all match-goers and runs from 4-7 p.m. The experience features live music on a large entertainment stage, the Coors Light Beer Garden, merchandise and concessions areas and The Armada Soccer Experience - a range of inflatable soccer attractions for fans of all ages. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the experience.

Fans will also be able to join the Armada FC March to the Match from the main stage into the stadium via East Duval Street and A. Philip Randolph Street, at 6:45 p.m.

Armada FC owner and CEO Mark Frisch will continue the club's pre-match, flag-raising tradition and become the first to hoist the Armada FC club flag over Community First Park at 7:20 p.m. The team will also sport their home blue uniforms presented by Winn-Dixie and Key Auto for the first time. Community First Credit Union President John Hirabayashi will join the match officials at midfield to conduct the pre-match coin toss shortly before kickoff. And following the match, supporters are encouraged to stay in their seats for a fireworks show.

LAST TIME OUT

Despite several scoring opportunities and an advantage in the possession column, including a goal by forward Jemal Johnson that was called off due to an offsides call, the Armada FC dropped a 1-0 contest to USL foe Charleston Battery on Wednesday, Feb. 18 in Charleston, S.C. The Battery's Austin Savage netted the matche's lone goal midway into the second half.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers, partly owned by Brazilian soccer legend Ronaldo, finished as 2014 NASL Championship runner-up and posted an 11-7-9 record. The Strikers are led by first-year head coach Marcelo Neveleff, who was hired on Jan. 19, 2015. Neveleff has held head coaching positions in Bolivia with Wilstermann and Aurora, leading the former to an appearance in the 2011 Copa Libertadores. He was the assistant coach for Miami FC in 2010. The club returns just four players from its 2014 squad.

CLUB CONNECTIONS

A member of the Strikers for the 2013 NASL spring season, Johnson scored one goal and made 11 appearances for the club ... Fort Lauderdale's Dani Sanchez played two seasons with Wellington Phoenix of the Australian A-League, clashing with the Armada FC's Marcos Flores and his former club Melbourne Victory in 2012 ... Flores went 2-0 against Sanchez and scored a goal in each of their matchups ... the Strikers' Shawn Chin shared the midfield with the Armada FC's Lucas Rodriguez in 2011 for Minnesota NSC (now Minnesota United FC) ... Guillardo and Fort Lauderdale's Manny Gonzalez were teammates on the Austin Aztex (now Orlando City SC) in 2009 ... despite never playing together, both Armada FC defender Matt Bahner and Strikers foward Jose Angulo are former Harrisburg City Islanders (USL).

UP NEXT

The Armada FC will return to Community First Park at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 8 against the Charleston Battery in a preseason friendly. Tickets are available by calling 1.844.2ARMADA or going to ArmadaFC.com .



North American Soccer League Stories from February 26, 2015


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